“Green” Economy, Emerging Jobs Are Focus at CSUS
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Sustainability Efforts on Campuses, in Academic Programs
As Earth Day is celebrated around the nation on April 22, the four universities of the Connecticut State University System (CSUS) have stepped up academic programs focusing on the growing “green economy” as well as sustainability initiatives. In doing so, students are provided with opportunities to gain the expertise necessary to excel in emerging fields, such as environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, which offer both the promise of career pathways and a means of accelerating Connecticut’s economic recovery.The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. CSUS, with more than 36,600 students, is the largest university system in Connecticut. It includes Central in New Britain, Eastern in Willimantic, Southern in New Haven and Western in Danbury.
All four universities are participants in the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, in which the institutions commit to developing and implementing an action plan for becoming climate neutral, to include actions to make climate neutrality and sustainability a part of the curriculum and other educational experience for all students and to expand research or other efforts necessary to achieve climate neutrality.
Connecticut law defines “green jobs” as jobs in which green technology is employed. “Green technology” is defined as technology that promotes clean energy, renewable energy or energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gases or carbon emissions, or involves the invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics defines a job as “green” if the employee produces environmentally friendly goods or services, or makes a company’s operations more sustainable.
Eastern developed an Energy Science track within the Environmental Earth Science (EES) Bachelor of Science major. The new track was offered for the first time a year ago. Students complete core courses in earth science as well as a sequence of courses that will prepare them to understand energy-related environmental issues and policies, and to design, analyze and monitor fossil fuel and renewable energy systems. The program broadens geosciences at Eastern and is already drawing new majors to the program. The department also offers an interdisciplinary minor in the field.
Eastern also has been hard at work matching new program offerings to the state’s workforce needs, including two new “Green” Certificates in Sustainable Energy Management offered through the School of Continuing Education, as well as courses in robotics and nanotechnology.
In addition, Eastern’s Institute for Sustainable Energy has a decade-long track record working with businesses, municipalities and organizations to identify, develop, and implement the means for achieving a sustainable energy future for Connecticut. The Institute focuses on matters relating to energy education, energy policy, efficiency conservation and load management, renewable energy, distributed generation, protection of environmental resources, and the dissemination of useful information on energy alternatives and sustainability to users and providers of energy.
Central offers a Master of Science in Geography with a specialization in Global Sustainability. It is a 30 credit degree program designed to enable students to examine global environmental, social and economic challenges facing society and to explore and develop possible sustainable solutions. Central’s geography department also offers a BA degree (Environmental Track) for students interested in pursuing environmental careers.
Central and Eastern were selected in 2010 for inclusion in the Princeton Review’s “Guide to 286 Green Colleges” – two of only six Connecticut institutions to be so designated for demonstrating an exemplary commitment to sustainability. Developed in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council, the Guide is the first comprehensive book focused solely on institutions of higher education with a commitment to sustainability reflected in their campus infrastructure, activities and initiatives.
Southern and Eastern are members of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education to further campus efforts toward building a healthy and just world. Through membership in AASHE, the universities receive support in advancing sustainability initiatives throughout the institution and in the community. AASHE enables higher education institutions to meet their sustainability goals by providing specialized resources, professional development, and a network of peer support.
Central recently hosted the 4th annual Global Environmental Sustainability Symposium on April 7. The conference included workshops, presentations, panels, and papers on a range of sustainability issues. On April 18, a “Sustainable Southern” town meeting was held highlighting efforts underway at Southern, ranging from energy conservation and recycling initiatives to greater use of incandescent bulbs, reductions in paper and use of graduation gowns made from recycled materials.
Southern’s Science Education and Environmental Studies Department offers students minors in environmental studies and marine studies. The environmental studies program includes areas related to land use planning, pollution prevention and controls, societal and economic pressures on the environment. Students in both programs are encouraged to become involved in research projects, internships, and independent studies in their areas of interest.
As part of their Freshman Year Experience program, which consists of two academic courses taken by groups of 20 students in “learning communities,” 100 Southern freshmen elected to focus on the environment as the theme for their course work.
Western is examining the feasibility of establishing a Center for the Study of Environmental Science and Public Policy to support an interdisciplinary program combining expertise presently available in several of the academic departments at the university with several regional partners. Participants in the Center would conduct research and involve students in studying issues dealing with ground and surface water resources in the region.
The proposed Center would create an organizational umbrella to coordinate all university and regional groups, including to: 1) prioritize and address common goals, 2) initiate future research studies, 3) sponsor student internships and graduate research assistantships to learn methods for conducting research, 4) expand pre-college student workshop opportunities, and 5) examine how to best make policy recommendations to the general public. Project partners would include Western’s Department of Biological and Environmental Science and the Department of Social Science with regional partners such as Candlewood Lake Authority and the Housatonic Valley Association.
Western’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences has previously offered an advanced course, Climate Ecology, in Spring 2009, which is now being considered as a formal course in the department’s course rotation and would address several “green issues” as part of the curriculum.
Each of the universities is also taking a series of steps that improve conservation and sustainability as well as reduce costs. More information is available at www.ct.edu/initiatives/sustainability
